In a gripping trial at the Old Bailey, Jake Drummond, 33, from Roehampton, was convicted of gross bodily harm with intent and the murder of 15-month-old Jacob Lennon. Jacob’s mother, Louise Lennon, 32, of Battersea, was found guilty of child neglect and causing or allowing the child’s death. Both defendants are scheduled for sentencing at the same court on Monday, 24 April.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley expressed the horror felt by all involved: “No one who has listened to the catalogue of injuries inflicted on Jacob Lennon can be anything but horrified. It is hard to comprehend how such a young and vulnerable baby could have been so abused. Drummond and Lennon sought to cover up their guilt by blaming accidents or feigning ignorance of how he was injured. However, a jury saw through their attempts to avoid the blame and found them both accountable for Jacob’s death.”
He continued, “This case was very distressing and I would like to thank my team and all those who supported the prosecution for their professionalism and diligence. Everyone concerned has had to listen to some truly harrowing evidence, but we were determined to persevere and bring those responsible for Jacob’s death to justice.”
The investigation began after police were called at 06:06 on 27 August 2019 to a residence in Putney. The London Ambulance Service had been responding to reports of a child in cardiac arrest. Jacob was rushed to a West London hospital but sadly died at 07:22.
A post-mortem examination conducted at Great Ormond Street Hospital revealed multiple traumatic brain injuries, some of which were days or weeks old. The fatal brain injury occurred three to five hours before Jacob’s death. In total, Jacob suffered over 40 recent injuries to his head, body, arms, and legs, as well as severe damage to his genitals. Louise Lennon claimed the genital injuries were caused by another child playing with a toy plastic knife. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Jacob endured repeated abuse over days and weeks.
Upon police arrival, Drummond and Lennon told officers they found Jacob unresponsive early that morning. Drummond stated he began CPR immediately. Lennon claimed that during a recent holiday, Jacob had an incident where he fell and hit his head but insisted it caused no problems. Both defendants fabricated stories to explain Jacob’s injuries.
Drummond reported waking to a loud bang and squeal, finding Jacob face down. However, a thorough investigation by the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Command uncovered the deception, leading to their convictions.
Originally published by UKNIP.
